Alejandro Valverde to return to racing faster than expected

According to Spanish newspaper El Periódico, the Movistar rider aims to make a return to racing this season at October’s Tour of Guanxi, China, despite the warnings of his doctors and team.

Movistar team staff had been unwilling to put a timeline on Valverde’s recovery and much will depend on how his left knee responds to the workload.

Originally, it was believed that the fracture to his knee cap would end the his season. However, Valverde has been tackling an intense rehabilitation programme at home in Murcia, with sessions both morning and night.